, 1887-09-15
The University Question.

We very much mistake the temper
ament of Port Townsend people if
they permit the bad faith, and failure
of the NJ E. conference to do its duty,
to interfere to the extent of defeating
a great enterprise that justly belongs
here. First, there is no need OF such
defeat; another denomination with
wealth and stability has asked the
privilege OF taking up the matter
where it was left by the Methodists;
and they will, if permitted by the
donors of the bonus, put ample Capt.
tai from abroad into the enterprise
this fall, so that excavating and con-
struction on a twenty-five thousand
dollar building may begin within two
months as had been planned; they
will cover our bonus, dollar for dollar
with cash and bankable security, and
will undertake TO raise within a
reasonable term of years a further
endowment fund OF at least fifty
Thousand dOllars-putting live
financial agent into the field at once
to devote his entire time to the work
of securing endowment for at least
five years to come. There is not the
slightest reason why the institution
may not be built as specially, as
strong financially, and with substau.
tally all the details that have hereto>
fore been had in view. Outside of
the few Tacoma schemers who have
interfered with our plans, there is a
; general feeling that we have been
most outrageously treated, and in
deed Willingness has already been
, expressed to aid us literally from
outside points. As far as the Nj. E.
University is concerned, its prospects
have been hopelessly bhghted by the
dishonest action of the body that has
the moulding of its destiny. The
Conference is dominated by ring in
! the interest of Tacoma; let them To-
cate there, and if the Tacoma people
: do not find that the coveted prize will
turn to veritable apples of Sodom
! then we will retract all we have said,
= Seattle might have entered the field
as contestant, but she felt that she
could not honorably do so until Port
=. Townsend had voluntarily given it up.
, Now, however, Seattle is disgusted
with the whole proceeding. She
would feel now, even if she were to
secure the institution thatits escutch
con had been stained, and that its
! prospects woald be very greatly i'm
= paired. 1t is not at all likely that
n anything definite will be done on the
part of the conference to locate fol
= another year; it would have been
done at the recent session, and in
favor of Tacoma, but the dominant
ring saw such a course wound un-
cover to the world too plainly theil
purposes and the venality of their
= conduct. Now then, with an unob
= structed field for the coming year
and considering the state of the pub,
lie mind, we can have by proper
management an institution SO fan
o under way by next year that it will
- completely overshadow the dishon-
: ored child of illicit love with Taco
ma
= Will our citizens move forward, OF
= will they exhibit the white feather
I because they are trodden upon!
Lst the ARGUS be not nisuuder
: STOOL It does not charge all who
II voted against Port Townsend ia the
: recent conference session as being
" other thay conscientious-not by any
> means. Some of the younger mem
bers lacked business diseernment
e but meant to do right. In fact, the
q whole plan to slaughter Townsend
. was manipulated by very few men
a The Lord Jesus Christ had one
= Judas among his twelve disciples; in
the NJ. e. Annual Conference, con-
: sisting of three dozen men, there
were three Judases. The great heart
OF the NJ. E. Church on Puget Sound
= rebels against the action of its recent
=. Conference. Even the members in
y Tacoma. we learn, are by no means
!, reconciled to such action. We do
: not lay the charge of sin in this mat
! ter at the door of the Church. II
we mistake not it will repudiate. the
y. action of its unworthy representa-.
u tives- In Port Townsend the M. e.
IL membership comprises as honorable
= and consecrated Christians as can be
|. found anywhere. They should not
be blamed because O few unworthy
. leaders have crept into power. Other
s conferences have been disgraced, and
a have suffered great injury thereby
t this conference must be purged be
. fore it can regain its usefulness. As
MIR. Denison said to it, the ministers
s should stand as the highest expon
a ents of honor.
: Col. Landes was interviewed in
t Seattle by P.-I. reporter; and in
G reply to question about the senti-